JOIN USPhotography festival on life of transgenders
'Sandesh' (meaning 'message') is the first-of-its-kind photography festival to be held in India on transgender life across the world. The festival will be held in Chandigarh from July 12 to 14.
Discussions on trans experience and transgender rights are entering mainstream discourse more than ever. Despite the growing media attention and acceptance of transgender identities, systemic and social-cultural barriers remain firm combined with the lack of sensitivity around this issue.
In the past, the organisers have undertaken various projects, worked with slum communities and conducted photography festivals.
'Sandesh' is also India’s first photo festival meant specifically for marginalised communities. An all-India festival, it aims to democratise photography and bridge the creative gap between weaker communities and the Indian society at large.
So far, they have focussed on two different communities. The main objective of the festival is to create awareness among people about the life of transgenders and to deliver them justice in the society.
"We totally believe in using photography for creating a social impact. Art has always been an extremely elitist medium. The world of photography is like an incest of alter egos and most of the people end up pleasing each other and end up ignoring the bigger audience outside the art-photo world,'' says Manik Katyal, a third-year law student and founder of the festival.
"We totally want to change that mindset. World class photography should be available for all. Hence, we have been organising festivals/exhibitions for various slum communities, colleges, women-empowerment initiatives, district prison etc showcasing the works of more than 75 artists from over 34 countries. We wish to travel to different cities/towns/villages in order to inspire more people across countries," says Manik Katyal.
The fest will showcase the works of masters of photography like Mark Seliger (known for his portrait series of President Obama), Mariette Pathy Alan (who has been documenting transgenders for more than 35 years all over the world) and many others capturing the daily lives of transgender people through stunning photography, book exhibitions and documentaries.
They are looking forward to conducting more projects in near future. "Using photography for social-impact, 'Sandesh' has been designed to inspire, encourage, share, learn, grow and explore new photographic ideas and practices in a joyful environment with as many different communities as possible and we shall continue to do that,'' says Manik.
Earlier, the organisers had held the festival for the inmates of the district prison in Dehradun. They will now present it to the transgender community in Chandigarh. The three-day festival will be held at multiple locations like Punjab University and cafes across the city. The organisers are also trying to get permission to hold a photography exhibition at one of the Deras where the trans community resides.
See some unique photos from the exhibition
